Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Another Rip Off

A few years ago one of my debit card numbers got ripped off. They only make a couple test charges at an Apple store in Sweden so it wasn't that big of a deal to get it shut down and reversed.

Last night I happened to check my email on my Droid at my mom's retirement dinner and saw a notice from my other bank (ING) that my overdraft protection had been engaged. I have the Droid app for ING so I pulled up my account and saw a dozen charges in and around Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, on the 5th and 6th. The total was in the several hundred dollar range and climbing. I immediately called ING and got it shut down and started the dispute process.

Today I'm filling out the Affidavit of Unauthorized Use and totaled up the damage at $889.80. By law I'm not liable for it and they'll put it back in my account, but this is a massive pain in the ass to deal with the bank and fill out paperwork, not to mention not being able to use that account until I clean this up. I'm guessing the card number was stolen during my recent forays into eastern Montana. I visited lots of small, depressed communities. I also visited Billings, the largest city in the state.

In the future, no debit card use for travel, only my regular VISA card. I do this on bike trips anyway because I hate balancing my checkbook with dozens of gas stops and restaurant and hotel charges. But recently I've been traveling for work a lot and using that ING debit card for food and gas (corporate card for hotels), since my per diem gets put there automagically after I file my expense report.

So, watch yourself out there. The wolves are watching you.

And the moral of this story:

Before using your debit card in Montana, make sure the proprietor of the establishment you use it in doesn't have friends and/or family in either Sweden or Canada...or maybe Nigeria...though the chances of THAT happening would be negligible at best, considering the demographics of Montana.

(...sorry John, couldn't resist...AND sorry to hear of this TOO!...that really sucks!!!!)

Lately, I've been carrying this new, untrackable spending media called "cash". It's accepted nearly everywhere and your maximum liability is limited to what you have on you.

I really don't worry that much about identity theft anyway, who in their right mind would want to be me?

Cash sucks for anything besides fast food or vending machines. And there are FAR more people who are willing to steal your cash than there are who can deal with a stolen debit card number.

Frikken Canadians are as bad as the Swedes and niether is much better than one of those Eastern Montanians.

Well said!

(of course we don't include Keith in this)

The first year Karen made it to Nelson we had issues with our cards. By the time we got home it seemed like every charge was doubled.
I also had an experience a few years back with a shredding service. I used to take my old bank statements (this was pre-online banking) to teh office to our secure shredding boxes.
I left for a business trip for two weeks. One week in LA and one week in Vegas. The day I landed in Vegas I only had $50 between both my checking accounts.

I got all my money back but the paperwork and phone calls...sheesh!

I feel your pain. This year the only thing going on the card is the hotel. All gas will be cash only... maybe. Damn I love that plastic.

sounds like wojo is having a good time.

I'm sorry to hear about your troubles John. Allow me to share my most recent rip off. Some dude came into the office selling cases (50 lbs) of oranges that were suppose to be fresh from his fathers farm that he just visited over the 4th. Well needless to say oranges sounded like a reasonable snack for me while at work so I bit. And he sold me a case of naval oranges from the damn grocery store. guess the dude needs to make a living too..even if it was scamming. I paid in cash which was probably good or I'd be in your boat.
Thank for letting me vent too!! Good luck buddy.

I had this happen last year, they only got about $200.00 before I caught it since I check my accounts daily. I'm pretty sure it happened at a Panda Express since the cashier takes the card to swipe it.

Dispute process worked, the bank put a temporary loan in my account pending resolution. The loan then converted to replacement.No fee.

The banker who helped me with the dispute suggested that I open another checking account that is not tied to my overdraft and only keep a small amount in it. I can do this for free too.

So far it works great. If I'm going out, I transfer some money to it and transfer the remainder back when I get home. I put several hundred on it when I went to Prescott for gas and possibles, put it back when I got home.

Or I can transfer to and from with my Droid at any time.

And I don't go to Panda anymore. I sent them an e-mail to their corporate and told them I would not patronize their restaurants until they set up a system where the card does not leave my hand.

That's now my policy: My debit card does not leave my hand. (Except for ATMs of course where it sucks it in til the transaction is complete).

Been there done that, twice...what a pain in the arse!! Sure hope you can get it cleared up soon. If these people could only put their minds to doing real work, they'd be successful.

Our local motorcycle shop had their account charged for over $30,000 and it took 6 months and working with the police in Spain to get it handled. Horrible time for them.

Yeah, they're supposed put temp loan in my account that will be converted to a standard credit upon conclusion of the investigation.

The only time that card leaves my hands is at hotels. I can't prove that it was Motel 6 last Friday night in Billings, but other than the Sierra Inn in Prescott, it is by far the sketchiest lodging I've used this year.

I hear ya! About 19 months ago we had $6,000.00 lifted from our account after a trip to Bali. Card only used twice at 5 star hotels and watched them use it at the desk. With some of the new electronic stuff I hear they can still access the info even then. Took us nearly 3 months to get our money refunded.

I still live by cash best I can. I'm trying to hold out!!

Bummer what happened to ya John and others!!

Yeah, I usually call the credit card company ahead of time to warn them I'm going out of the country. I've had that happen too.

Huh, I wonder if I have any of that cra... er, stuff laying around from last year...

I agree with using a credit card only on trips. We recently had two transactions totalling about $5600 for cell phone purchases made using my credit card in a specific area in Toronto. The only thing I purchased in that particular area was gasoline and with my card at the pump. Everything was refunded but changing cards and going through "The Process" was a pain.

Good luck John with the follow up.

Cash is King!, i am far less likely to have someone take my cash, that is in my pocket, that is on my person, that is attached to 2 swinging fists, than some coward taking #s off a card, and using it in the safety of any where away from me.
Ill stick with cash............

I'm out of shape, fat and I don't have my concealed carry permit yet. I'll take cards.